EP 2286871 A2 20110223 - Flexible circuit electrode array manufacturing method
Title (en)
Flexible circuit electrode array manufacturing method
Title (de)
FLEXIBLES SCHALTUNGSELEKTRODEN-ARRAY HERSTELLUNGSVERFAHREN
Title (fr)
PROCÉDÉ DE FABRICATON D'UN RESEAU D'ELECTRODES A CIRCUIT SOUPLE
Publication
Application
Priority
- EP 06758862 A 20060428
- US 20764405 A 20050819
- US 67600805 P 20050428
Abstract (en)
Polymer materials are useful as electrode array bodies for neural stimulation. They are particularly useful for retinal stimulation to create artificial vision, cochlear stimulation to create artificial hearing, or cortical stimulation many purposes. The pressure applied against the retina, or other neural tissue, by an electrode array is critical. Too little pressure causes increased electrical resistance, along with electric field dispersion. Too much pressure may block blood flow. Common flexible circuit fabrication techniques generally require that a flexible circuit electrode array be made flat. Since neural tissue is almost never flat, a flat array will necessarily apply uneven pressure. Further, the edges of a flexible circuit polymer array may be sharp and cut the delicate neural tissue. By applying the right amount of heat to a completed array, a curve can be induced. With a thermoplastic polymer it may be further advantageous to repeatedly heat the flexible circuit in multiple molds, each with a decreasing radius. Further, it is advantageous to add material along the edges. It is further advantageous to provide a fold or twist in the flexible circuit array. Additional material may be added inside and outside the fold to promote a good seal with tissue.
IPC 8 full level
A61N 1/05 (2006.01); A61N 1/36 (2006.01); H05K 3/00 (2006.01)
CPC (source: EP US)
A61N 1/0543 (2013.01 - EP US); H05K 3/0011 (2013.01 - US); A61N 1/0541 (2013.01 - EP US); A61N 1/36046 (2013.01 - EP US); Y10T 29/49124 (2015.01 - EP US)
Citation (applicant)
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Designated contracting state (EPC)
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
DOCDB simple family (publication)
WO 2006116765 A2 20061102; WO 2006116765 A3 20070222; AU 2006239178 A1 20061102; AU 2006239178 B2 20110303; EP 1874397 A2 20080109; EP 1874397 B1 20160601; EP 1874397 B2 20191225; EP 2286871 A2 20110223; EP 2286871 A3 20120404; EP 2286871 B1 20160420; EP 2298408 A2 20110323; EP 2298408 A3 20120404; US 10667404 B2 20200526; US 2006247754 A1 20061102; US 2006259112 A1 20061116; US 2008057179 A1 20080306; US 2008064946 A1 20080313; US 2014115885 A1 20140501; US 8014878 B2 20110906; US 8639344 B2 20140128; US 9125290 B2 20150901
DOCDB simple family (application)
US 2006016655 W 20060428; AU 2006239178 A 20060428; EP 06758862 A 20060428; EP 10179429 A 20060428; EP 10182995 A 20060428; US 201414146681 A 20140102; US 20764405 A 20050819; US 41368906 A 20060428; US 92604607 A 20071028; US 92815107 A 20071030